The honeycomb was the inspiration behind Zaha Hadid Architects’ design for this research centre

The 230,000-square-foot campus of the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Centre is now open

Even after the loss of its eponymous visionary, Zaha Hadid Architects continues to churn out unique, shapely structures in the style of its Pritzker Prize–winning founder. The latest? The King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, headquarters of the non-profit research institute whose mission is to use effective energy for social good.

The 230,000 square-foot campus comprises five buildings and cuts a striking figure against its desert surroundings. For its unusual, geometric shape, ZHA was inspired by the crystalline structure of a honeycomb, rendered all in white. The design is also modular, anticipating the possible need for future additions, which can be easily integrated into the existing gridwork of “cells.”

Appropriately, the project, ZHA’s first to receive LEED platinum certification, demonstrates several eco-friendly practices in action. Here are some impressive stats:

By optimizing the campus’s shape and orientation and outfitting it with solar panels and wind-catchers, the firm achieved a 45 percent reduction in estimated energy use.

40 percent of the building’s construction materials were sourced from a 500-mile radius;

30 percent of them are recycled; and 98 percent of all the building’s wood is certified by the FSC.

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The honeycomb was the inspiration behind Zaha Hadid Architects' design for this research centre

The honeycomb was the inspiration behind Zaha Hadid Architects' design for this research centre

The honeycomb was the inspiration behind Zaha Hadid Architects' design for this research centre

The honeycomb was the inspiration behind Zaha Hadid Architects' design for this research centre

Additionally, all the building’s water is recycled and reused for irrigation throughout its site. Tour the five-building campus here.